Meet an outstanding alpine spa hideaway to recharge body and soul in one of the most beautiful secluded corners of Germany.

I must confess, Berchtesgadener Land in Germany’s southeastern Upper Bavaria had never been on my bucket list.

I had visited once actually, with my parents, decades ago when I was still in school. As far as I remember, it was a summer vacation with heavy rain during the full two weeks of our stay, and activities I did not fancy much. With exception of a boat ride on beautiful Königssee (Kings Lake), perhaps.

But earlier this year when planning a last-minute trip for an extended Easter weekend, flipping through my extensive clippings of interesting hotels to seek out, one immediately grabbed my attention. Or better, the image of a spacious, light-flooded room in an all-natural wooden design with panoramic mountain views outside a large window-front.

Upon investigating further, Klosterhof’s excellent wellness and culinary concept in combination with the hotel’s convenient proximity to Salzburg airport while nestled away in complete nature ticked all the boxes I needed to make my final decision.

A decision, I did not regret for one second!

To tell the truth, it’s easy to fall in love with Klosterhof. Located in a secluded location amid the stunning alpine mountain backdrop of Berchtesgadener Land, a relaxed, natural interior and the welcoming staff makes it the perfect destination for a few days of relax and wellbeing, with the option to spend time in nature too.

Arriving at the hotel, your first impression is that of a modern structure carefully build to naturally blend into the surroundings.

A more careful look reveals a beautiful historic building that once formed part of the Monastery of St. Zeno. Here Augustinian monks preserved the ancient knowledge of their order during the 16th to 19th century. A beautiful small garden offered an area of retreat but was used to grow herbs like and vegetables as well.

The monastery later abandoned the location, and the place was sold to a local farmer. However, the name Klosterhof, which translates to cloister yard, stuck and it became one of the first gastronomic establishments of Berchdesgadener Land when it was granted a liquor licence in 1860.

In 2011, the Färber family purchased the historic Klosterhof building and surrounding area. Their vision of a wellness hotel opened its doors as Klosterhof Alpine Hideaway & Spa in 2016, following several years of careful renovation and the construction of the modern wing, build with the highest sustainability credentials.

What are rooms like at Hotel Klosterhof

We were staying in one of the beautiful, 65 sqm panorama suites and upon stepping into the spacious bedroom, it was the stunning panoramic view that unfolded outside the large window front that took my breath away.

The suite itself was composed of a spacious bedroom with a large comfortable bed and a cosy seating corner, a separate living area with another small seating corner and dining table, a spacious bathroom, and a large, southern facing balcony.

While 65 sqm is quite large, I never take it for granted to get ample wardrobe or other storage space in a hotel. Therefore, I was very pleasantly surprised the room also offered a generous wardrobe area.

Other room options at Klosterhof range the from classic room to the panorama room and panorama loft (with higher ceiling and window front), a panorama junior suite, a spa loft on two floors or the spa suite (both with a private whirlpool), and the panorama junior suite. All located in the modern wooden annex. In addition, there are additional junior suites and suites in the historic house.

All categories are spacious, with the classic room at around 25 sqm and other categories starting at 38 sqm and the junior suites starting at 45 sqm. Otherwise, there are little differences. All spot a natural design with apple wood furniture, natural wood floorings, large comfy beds and spacious bathrooms.

What to know about Klosterhof’s culinary and wellness concept

The beautiful surroundings and stylish, cosy rooms apart, the outstanding wellness and culinary concept is undoubtedly one of the main criteria to check into Klosterhof.

The 1,500 sqm spa area boasts a panorama sauna, a large indoor and slightly smaller outdoor pool, a large gym and yoga area, with all offering open views of the stunning mountain backdrop. It’s the most beautiful space to benefit form a large offering of wellness treatments, yoga classes, Pilates, meditation and aqua gym.

Just in case the long list of wellness and activity program leaves you wondering where to start, make sure you book a consultation at the hotel’s health centre ahead of your arrival. Directly under the leas of your host Dr. Andreas Färber there you will get sports and nutritional advice as well as mental coaching.

If all that does not yet keep you busy enough, there are guided hiking and biking tours through the surrounding area.

And then there is the food.

It’s safe to say, the gastronomic experience at Klosterhof is nothing short of exceptional.

The day starts with a large, healthy breakfast buffet that offers everything one could wish for. From the large choice of bread, croissants and breakfast sweets to cold cuts, cheese, homemade jams, yogurt, muesli, eggs and fruits our start into the day could not have been much better.

My favourite was the daily changing ‘breakfast special’ from eggs benedict to pancakes, or scrambled eggs with truffles, I’ve been looking forward to the new daily offer more eagerly than I would ever have imagined, given I am absolutely no breakfast person.

Next comes the lunch-bowl-buffet offering a range of vegan, plant-based regional food options followed by a cake buffet (it’s a holiday, after all).

Weather permitting, the lovely terrace in front of the historic building overlooking the pool and garden area, is the perfect place to enjoy your lunch, or later have a pre-dinner drink.

Alternatively, you can head to the small bar for pre or after-dinner cocktails.

At dinner, there is a choice from three different types of menus though you are welcome chose your four-course dinner individually from all three menus. From purely plant based vegan food to regional dishes and the Chef’s Choice selection incorporating slightly more international dishes, the daily changing menus are a highlight of each day.

No excellent menu is complete with the perfect wine match, and the wine menu offers a good choice of Austrian (the closest vineyard areas) and international wines, along with a nice range of non-alcoholic wines.

No matter what, don’t miss the daily changing cocktail of the day which includes an alcoholic and non-alcoholic version.

The surroundings

Bayerisch Gmain, right at the border to Austria, offers the first stunning glimpses of the areas’ alpine mountain peaks while it sits within the regions’ still softer rolling precinct of the Bavarian Alps.

The area belongs to Berchtesgadener Land, home to Germany’s only National Park in the German Alps offering numerous hiking and biking paths, or skiing during the winter months.

The secluded village is just a stone’s throw from the beautiful city of Bad Reichenhall, while Berchtesgaden can be reached in around 20 minutes and one of the regions’ highlights, the beautiful Königssee (Kings Lake) in another 5 minutes from Berchtesgaden.

Other attractions include Eagles Nest on top of Obersalzberg, the salt mines at Berchtesgaden, the world’s largest accessible ice caves Eisriesenwelt, Mount Watzmann, Hintersee, and Ramsau and the mystic forest, to name just a few.

Meanwhile, crossing the border to Austria, the neighbouring town of Großgmain is home to the Salzburg Open Air Museum with more than 100 beautifully restored historic buildings, and the opportunity to learn about historic farming, rural crafts and trade.

Driving right into the historic part of Salzburg in Austria takes around 20 minutes.

Final thoughts

There are hotels that make you feel immediately at ease and Klosterhof stands out to me as such a destination. It sits somewhere between a luxury resort and spa hotel with an innovative concept of wellness, relaxation, and exceptional dining, boasting an atmosphere that is effortless and laid-back.

Nestled away in a tranquil corner of the seemingly endless lush green alpine landscapes of Berchtesgadener Land, here you can either chose complete relaxation or engage in an individual activity program, along with trips to several nearby exciting destinations.

If you are looking for great yet unpretentious cuisine, warm hospitality, timeless natural stylish design, excellent spa and wellness options, along with breathtaking nature, Klosterhof in Bayerisch Gmain will tick all your boxes.